Water Quality Reports

water Quality report

WATER QUALITY MONITORING REPORT 2007
TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BAY

Prepared for: G.B.A. Foundation With funding assistance from: Township of Georgian Bay By:

Karl Schiefer, Ph.D. - Water Chemistry and Limnology
Kimberley Schiefer, M.Sc. - Bacterial Analysis
Paul Wiancko, M.Eng - Inland Lakes

The 2007 water quality monitoring programs were focused on the following:
To build on the bacterial monitoring database established during the period 1999 to 2006for inshore areas of Honey Harbour, Cognashene, Go Home Bay, Wah Wah Taysee and Twelve Mile Bay;
To verify several of the correlations between various land uses and human activities on bacterial levels observed in the 1999 to 2006 study programs;
To initiate or continue similar bacterial monitoring programs on Go Home Lake, Six Mile Lake, Gibson Lake, Gloucester Pool and the Severn River;
To continue a focused water chemistry program in the Honey Harbour, Cognashene Lake and Twelve Mile Bay areas related to eutrophication (phosphorus, water clarity, dissolved oxygen, coldwater fish community);
To expand the water chemistry program to include Six Mile Lake, Gibson Lake, Go Home Lake, Gloucester Pool and the Severn River.

Water quality studies carried out along the eastern coast of Georgian Bay over the past six years in the Township of Georgian Bay and the Township of The Archipelago have yielded some very interesting and significant information. These results further verify that the eastern shore of Georgian Bay is not only the largest, most complex and physically diverse freshwater archipelago in the world, but that it also contains water chemistry, hydrological, limnological and biological features which are equally complex and diverse. Much of this stems from the fact that two major geological zones meet on a Great Lakes coastline, affecting physical, chemical and biological features to a degree not commonly found elsewhere. ....

(March 2008 pdf - LARGE FILE 29 Mbytes)

WATER QUALITY MONITORING REPORT 2006
TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BAY

Prepared for: G.B.A. Foundation With funding assistance from: Township of Georgian Bay By:

Karl Schiefer, Ph.D. - Water Chemistry and Limnology
Kimberley Schiefer, M.Sc. - Bacterial Analysis
Paul Wiancko, M.Eng - Inland Lakes

The 2006 water quality monitoring programs were focused on the following:
To build on the bacterial monitoring database established during the period 1999 to 2005 for inshore areas of Honey Harbour, Cognashene, Go Home Bay, Wah Wah Taysee and Twelve Mile Bay;
To verify several of the correlations between various land uses and human activities on bacterial levels observed in the 1999 to 2005 study programs;
To initiate or continue similar bacterial monitoring programs on Go Home Lake, Six Mile Lake, Gibson Lake, Gloucester Pool and the Severn River;
To continue a focused water chemistry program in the Honey Harbour, Cognashene Lake and Twelve Mile Bay areas related to eutrophication (phosphorus, water clarity, dissolved oxygen, coldwater fish community);
To expand the water chemistry program to include Six Mile Lake, Gibson Lake, Go Home Lake, Gloucester Pool and the Severn River.

The eastern coast of Georgian Bay is one of the most diverse and physically complex freshwater shorelines in the world. This is caused largely by the interface of two major geological structures - the Precambrian Shield (granite) and the Niagara Escarpment (limestone). This geological configuration has a significant influence on water chemistry along this coastline. In southeastern Georgian Bay, the physical and chemical complexity of coastal ecosystems is further exaggerated by the major watersheds that discharge to the bay in this area ....

(March 2007 pdf - LARGE FILE 8.9 Mbytes)

WATER QUALITY MONITORING REPORT 2005 TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BAY

Prepared for: G.B.A. Foundation With funding assistance from: Township of Georgian Bay By: Karl Schiefer, Ph.D. & Kimberley Schiefer, M.Sc.

The 2005 water quality monitoring programs were focused on the following:

To build on the bacterial monitoring database established during the period 1999 to 2004 for inshore areas of Honey Harbour, Cognashene, Go Home Bay, Wah Wah Taysee and Twelve Mile Bay;
To verify several of the correlations between various land uses and human activities on bacterial levels observed in the 1999 to 2004 study programs;
To initiate or continue similar bacterial monitoring programs on Go Home Lake, Six Mile Lake, Gibson Lake, Gloucester Pool and the Severn River; and
To carry out a focused water chemistry program in the Honey Harbour, Coggnasssshene Lake and Twelve Mile Bay areas related to eutrophication (phosphorus, water clarity, dissolved oxygen, coldwater fish community)

Water quality studies carried out along the eastern coast of Georgian Bay over the past five years in the Township of Georgian Bay and the Township of The Archipelago have yielded some very interesting and significant information. These results further verify that the eastern shore of Georgian Bay is not only the largest, most complex and physically diverse freshwater archipelago in the world, but that it also contains water chemistry, hydrological, limnological and biological features which are equally complex and diverse. Much of this stems from the fact that two major geological zones meet on a Great Lakes coastline, affecting physical, chemical and biological features to a degree not commonly found elsewhere.

(January 2006 pdf - LARGE FILE 6.8 Mbytes)

WATER QUALITY MONITORING REPORT 2004 TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BAY

Prepared for: G.B.A. Foundation With funding assistance from: Township of Georgian Bay By: Karl Schiefer, Ph.D. & Kimberley Schiefer, M.Sc.

The 2004 water quality monitoring programs were focused on the following:

To build on the bacterial monitoring database established during the period 1999 to 2003 for inshore areas of Honey Harbour, Cognashene, Go Home Bay, Wah Wah Taysee and Twelve Mile Bay;
To verify several of the correlations between various land uses and human activities on bacterial levels observed in the 1999 to 2003 study programs;
To initiate or continue similar bacterial monitoring programs on Go Home Lake, Six Mile Lake, Gibson Lake, Gloucester Pool and the Severn River; and
To carry out a focused water chemistry program in the Honey Harbour and Twelve Mile Bay areas related to eutrophication (phosphorus, water clarity, dissolved oxygen, coldwater fish community)

The 2003 and 2004 programs added a significant scientific research component. The Township's monitoring program was integrated into a water quality research study carried out at the University of Guelph under the supervision of Dr. Michael Goss. The coordinated monitoring and research programs allowed for a far more detailed and rigorous sampling program in the Honey Harbour and Cognashene areas of Georgian Bay, as well as adding to the range of bacterial analysis carried out. This comprehensive database formed the research component of a Master of Science thesis at the University of Guelph in 2004, and will be available through the Township and GBA Foundation. This research has added some new insights into bacterial contamination of recreational waters related to various human land and water use activities. It also provides a useful planning tool to guide lakeshore development decisions..

(January 2005 pdf - LARGE FILE 9.3Mbytes)

Water Quality Along the Southeastern Shoreline of Georgian Bay in 2003.

This latest report details water quality conditions at 14 different nearshore sites along the southeastern shoreline of Georgian Bay.

Prepared by Dr. Ronald Griffiths, Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Ontario and Mary Muter, Volunteer Program Manager, the report is the result of scientifically sound water quality testing programs, which were undertaken by trained volunteers in the municipalities of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, the Township of the Archipelago and Georgian Bay Township.

This program continues to document the invasion and spread of exotic species in southeastern Georgian Bay that would have otherwise gone undocumented. While it has been known for some time that zebra mussels can induce water quality changes in lakes of all sizes, exotic species now have been found to play a role in the deaths of large numbers of fish and waterfowl in Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron. Thus it is vital to document the establishment and spread of invasive species, as our understanding of the impact of invasive species on ecosystems is still rudimentary.

This study was completed with the generous financial and volunteer contributions of the Township of Georgian Bay, the Georgian Bay Association, and the GBA Foundation.

(December 2003 pdf 1Mbyte)

Benithic Data - Supporting 2003 Water Quality report.

WATER QUALITY STUDY OF STURGEON BAY - December 2003

Over the past several years, there has been a sharply increased concern and focus on water quality issues in the Sturgeon Bay area. Water quality monitoring in the Sturgeon Bay basin in late summer of 2001 and 2002 identified exceptionally high total phosphorus levels in surface waters. This coincided with greatly reduced water clarity, dissolved oxygen depletion in the deepwater zones (within and below the thermocline), heavy plankton blooms and a significant occurrence of blue-green algae in early September.

This latter condition has resulted in the issuance of health advisories by the Muskoka-Parry Sound Health Unit and the Township of The Archipelago to Sturgeon Bay area residents suggesting that they refrain from using Sturgeon Bay waters for domestic or recreational purposes. These advisories were issued in September of 2003.

This has all raised concern as to the level of eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) which has occurred in Sturgeon Bay and what action might be taken to reverse this process and restore water quality to a more natural and historic condition.

This study was initiated by the Township of The Archipelago in 2003 to address these issues. It follows up on the disturbing results of water quality monitoring in Sturgeon Bay in 2001 and 2002, and attempts to identify, in greater detail, the water quality issues which have emerged here. The 88 page report was prepared for: The Township by: Karl Schiefer, Ph.D. Professional Biologist

(December 2003 pdf - LARGE FILE 5Mbytes)

WATER QUALITY MONITORING REPORT 2003 TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BAY

Prepared for: G.B.A. Foundation With funding assistance from: Township of Georgian Bay By: Karl Schiefer, Ph.D.

This report builds on early studies of water quality in Honey Harbour, Cognashene, Go Home Bay, Wah Wah Taysee and Twelve Mile Bay. The 2003 program added a significant scientific research component. The Township's monitoring program was integrated into a water quality research study carried out at the University of Guelph under the supervision of Dr. Michael Goss. The coordinated monitoring and research programs allowed for a far more detailed and rigorous sampling program in the Honey Harbour and Cognashene areas of Georgian Bay, as well as adding to the range of bacterial analysis carried out. This comprehensive database will form the research component of a Master of Science thesis at the University of Guelph in the spring of 2004, and will be available through the Township and GBA Foundation.

Volume 1 of this report covers the results of water chemistry monitoring in the Township of Georgian Bay in 2003, while Volume 2 covers the bacterial monitoring results.

(December 2003 - pdf - LARGE FILE 5 Mbytes)

(December 2003 - pdf - LARGE FILE 3.5 Mbytes)